Sparks Fall Flat Against Atlanta

August 9, 2018

Just 24 hours after escaping with a one-point win in New York, the Sparks came up short against the Atlanta Dream 79-73, snapping a three-game winning streak. Candace Parker got the opening tip and threw a lazer to a cutting Nneka Ogwumike for a layup to start the game, but it was a sluggish start for both teams, as the Sparks were playing the second night of a back-to-back and the Dream announced before the game All-Star forward Angel McCoughtry would miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. After shooting just 41.2 percent from the field, the Sparks led 17-13 after the first quarter, largely thanks to the Dream shooting 31.2 percent in the opening frame.

The Dream took their first lead of the game at 20-19 on a layup from Imani McGee-Stafford midway through the second quarter. Both teams continued to struggle from the field, but Odyssey Sims was able to draw a foul and sink two free throws to put the Sparks back up 26-24 with 4:03 remaining in the first half. Neither team could separate themselves and a Renee Montgomery buzzer-beater gave the Dream a 36-33 lead at the half. Jessica Breland led Atlanta with eight first half points and Parker and Ogwumike both scored seven.

The Dream started the second half on a 7-3 run, continuing to push the pace. Their 43-36 lead was their biggest of the game. The Sparks responded with a 7-0 run capped by a Parker tip-in to tie the game at 43-43 before Montgomery made a spinning layup. Both teams exchanged baskets in a quarter that had much more intensity than the first half. Riquna Williams and Jessica Breland went back and forth scoring. The Dream closed the third on a 4-0 run to take a 63-55 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Sparks started the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run as a Williams 3-pointer and jumper cut the Dream lead to 63-62 with seven minutes remaining in the game. Alana Beard followed it up with her second steal of the game. But Atlanta responded by getting to the foul line to maintain a narrow lead. A Chelsea Gray drive tied the game at 68-68, but Alex Bentley responded with a 3-pointer to give the Dream a 71-68 lead. A Gray jumper pulled the Sparks to within 71-70 before Elizabeth Williams scored on a slip to the rum to put the Dream up 73-70. Parker missed two 3-pointers that would have tied the game in the last minute and Bentley hit a pull-up jumper with 15.4 remaining to give the Dream a 75-70 lead. The Sparks responded with a Williams triple to pull to 75-73 with 10.9 left, but Tiffany Hayes sunk two free throws with 4.4 seconds remaining to seal the game for Atlanta.

COMMUNITY

Love Basketball?

Copyright 2018 NBA Media Ventures, LLC | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. By accessing any information beyond this page, you agree to abide by the NBA.com